Over the past couple of years, we’ve been hearing rumours that Nintendo is finally getting serious about producing movies based on their video game properties again. They have been understandably gunshy ever since the release of the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros movie which was a monumental box office flop. Although speculation about a live-action Zelda TV series seems to have been unfounded, this week we have confirmation that talks are well underway to bring a Super Mario Bros animated movie to the big screen. What’s more, the folks behind the hugely successful Despicable Me movies will be the ones behind it. Hit the jump for more info.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment are close to finalizing a deal with Nintendo to make a big budget Super Mario Bros CG animated movie. Talks have been going on for over a year now and came about as a result of Nintendo’s partnership to bring their video game IPs to Universal’s theme parks. Shigeru Miyamoto would be involved creatively as a producer, along with Illumination’s CEO Chris Meledandri.

The project is still a ways off (a few years at least), but it would be pretty huge if it does go through. Nintendo recently licensed out some of their characters for Wreck-It Ralph and Pixels, but aside from that it’s been a long time since these characters have seen anywhere outside of video games. Obviously the potential is huge considering how recognizable they are, but capturing the right tone could be tricky. Do you think Illumination is the right studio to bring Mario back to the big screen?

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Tommy

I would have said fuck off, but I was surprised that Ubisoft got the Mario tone right for that Rabbids game.I’m a teensy bit more willing to accept another company having a go at the property now.